Wiggins probably ends up at Kentucky like all the other superstar prospects over the years since Cal went there. Although seeing McLemore be the possible #1 pick this year can't be hurting KU's chances.

By Jay King, MassLive.com
on January 20, 2013 at 12:30 PM, updated January 20, 2013 at 2:31 PM

SPRINGFIELD -- No longer in prime time at the Hoophall Classic, Kansas signee Wayne Selden (ESPN's No. 16 boys senior) nonetheless showed why he's one of the nation's elite high school basketball players Sunday as he helped Tilton down Vermont Academy, 71-67, at Springfield College.

After notching 24 points and seven rebounds, Selden noted that Tilton, which lost Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel to graduation after last season, had been downgraded in status by the tournament's directors.

"We got the Sunday morning game now, we're not prime time anymore, so we have to work for everything we get," said the star.

But that doesn't mean he misses everything about Tilton's previous campaign.

"We have more heart this year. We're more of a fighting team this year," he said. "We have to earn everything we get, nothing's handed to us."

Quite clearly the most talented player on the floor, Selden was nonetheless unselfish. Early in the first half, he could have forced a shot in the paint, but decided to kick out to an open teammate for a 3-pointer. On the ensuing possession, he dribbled in transition to the foul line, looked to his right and fired a bullet bounce pass to his left, where a teammate was waiting underneath the basket for an easy lay-in.

Concerning his mentality toward scoring, Selden was more LeBron James than Kobe Bryant. (Note: By no means should you consider that a comparison between Selden and the greatest basketball player on earth.) The Tilton star only had one assist, but he facilitated ball movement all game and could have easily picked up more dimes if his teammates had hit open shots.

His team-first mentality should bode well at Kansas next season, and it didn't keep him from scoring 17 of his 24 points in the second half Sunday. He rarely forced shots, making 10 of 18 field goal attempts, but still showed an ability to score when his team needed it most. Vermont Academy put together a late surge, but Selden ended any hopes of a comeback with a baseline drive that he finished with a reverse layup with less than a minute left.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound, Selden, who prides himself on "being able to operate with the ball, being able to penetrate and find the open man," looks like he developed an addiction to protein shakes many years ago, and used his phenomenal strength Sunday to his advantage in the mid-post. However, at least on this day, his shot of choice after catching in the post was a fadeaway jump shot. Despite the effectiveness of his turnaround, he likely would have been better served taking his 6-foot-1 defender closer to the basket.

When Selden did drive to the hoop, defenders bounced off him. After one particularly strong drive on which the guard drew a foul, the Vermont Academy coach screamed for his player to take a charge. I almost expected the player to shout back, "Coach, I'd rather survive."

Defensively, Selden wasn't always attentive, but showed a willingness to work. He took one charge and attempted to take at least one other. Tilton showed a lot of zone and Selden often played closer to the basket, so he wasn't used in nearly the same capacity in which coach Bill Self will ask him to operate at Kansas.

Asked why he chose the Jayhawks, Selden replied, "I felt like it was the best place for me as a player, as a person, socially. It was just a really good family environment. I feel like I can go there, help the team out."

2) It was obvious Gipson was targeted to get limited minutes by the bias refs on the most ridiculous manufactured fouls I've ever seen. Just like I talked about before the game. How in the world do you think Bill was going to get his points in the paint? Keep the Big Gip on the bench. That 5th foul was more of a foul on Withey, but hey the refs had to stick to the script.

3) KU shoots out of their arse. Go figure. They royally suck their last 3 games, but of course this game was a make or break of their season.

4) We missed a lot of shots, including FT's. You can't do that if you expect to win this game. Even when our players were fouled on made baskets at the rim the refs blew off calling any foul. I saw that happen at least twice.

5) JO is STILL all thumbs & can't handle a pass. He has no business putting the ball on the floor to dribble, guaranteed TO. Withey ran circles around him.

6) As discussed earlier our bigs have to protect the basket, or expect lots of pud layups & slam dunks.

7) Our protection of the KU transition game sucked. Another thing I discussed before pre-game.

8) Our defense has bad tonight. Anytime we'd get a TO on KU we'd simply turn it right back over trying to get our own transition basket. Too much panic & it wasn't necessary & it limited our opportunities to put up more points.

8) KU kept all their starters in the entire game with the objective of the birthday boy getting his 30 points, so Brett Mushmouth could tell us for the 10th time that's what the Jayhawks wanted to do. KU would have beat us by 10-20 more points if Bill had his way. Under these conditions I'm not surprised of the outcome, but I thought it would have been closer if Gip could have played more.

9) Our kids didn't give up, so I admire the effort.

10) We'll be fine. Up next, Baylor & West Virginia on our turf. KU will slip up on the road somewhere, so we still control our own destiny & still can at least share the conference, or even win it.Welcome to KStateFans.com

not sure what your issue is with #1 on that list rerun, it's a factual statement.

I mean, KU claims Championships in 2005, 2006, and 2008 even though they tied Oklahoma and Texas(x2) don't they?

No, you are incorrect. Those schools got KU for a home Game they won, without having to return to play in Allen. So the league awarded a split due to unbalanced scheduling. This situation no longer occurs.

while I don't think it rises to a conspriacy, at least 3 of the fouls on Gipson were crap calls, including the 5th.

I think KU got the better end of the officiating last night but let's not pretend like KU got all the calls. Both of Floppy McWhitekid's charges were crap and angel hacksalot Rodriguez should have been called for a shitload of hacks and riding the ball handler. And Releford got picked on for KU in a similar manner to Gipson.